Round two of the 2012 AMA Supercross series rolled through Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday in what proved to be a historical night for Red Bull/KTM and Ryan Dungey.
Having never won a Supercross main event in the United States, the Austrian manufacturer finally captured victory thanks to an incredible team effort and Dungey’s flawless performance. After grabbing the holeshot and checking out early, Dungey laid down 20 perfect laps en route to the checkers, and just like that, the celebration began for the elated crew in orange.
Somewhat overshadowed by Dungey’s huge win, the Red Bull/KTM squad also had reason to celebrate after the Lites main event, as French Supercross rookie Marvin Musquin put his 250 SX-F on the box with a solid second-place effort.
Here’s how all the action unfolded in Phoenix…
Supercross Qualifying Heats
- When the gate dropped for the first Supercross-class heat of the night, James Stewart rounded turn number one just inside the top-ten and immediately went to work on the riders up front.
- By the halfway point, JS7 had maneuvered himself into the third spot after making quick work of Mike Alessi, then set his sights on Chad Reed in second.
- After some rubbing between Reed and Andrew Short for the lead, Stewart took advantage of their slowed momentum and passed both riders to move into first in one fell swoop.
- Once out front, Stewart threw down some lighting-fast lap times despite being under the weather and down on energy, taking an impressive heat win.
- In Supercros Heat #2, Dungey got off to a bit of a slow start but began methodically picking off slower riders on his way to a fourth-place, qualifying position behind Jake Weimer, Justin Brayton and Davi Millaps.
John Huber/Red Bull Media House North America, Inc.
Supercross Main Event
- When the pack rocketed down the long Phoenix start straight to kick off the Supercross-class main event, Dungey muscled his way to the inside as he crossed the holeshot stripe in the first position.
- Behind Dungey, Stewart had a horrific first lap after getting a bad jump out of the gate and found himself circulating just outside the top-15 as the field completed lap one.
- On lap seven, just after passing Metcalfe for sixth, Stewart got caught up in a sand section two turns from the finish line double and got pushed all the way back to the 15th spot.
- Despite a valiant effort to climb his way back inside the top-ten to collect as many points as possible, JS7 finished the night in a disappointing eighth place.
- Looking smooth and consistent up front, Dungey casually built a seven-second lead by the halfway point and continued to clock quick laps until the checkers flew.
- Long overdue for the Austrian manufacturer, KTM took home their very first Supercross-class main event win thanks to an incredible effort by the determined Dungey, and the crew was absolutely ecstatic as they celebrated on the stadium floor.
- Dungey is now tied for first in the championship points chase as the series heads back west to L.A. next weekend.
“This is an unbelievable win tonight,” Dungey told us after the race. “I’ve been a part of a lot of great moments, but to be the first to win on the KTM, especially after seeing just how dedicated and hard-working this team is, is just incredible. I don’t know that it’s completely sunk in just yet, but we’re definitely going to enjoy this one tonight.”
Supercross Results
1. Ryan Dungey
2. Jake Weimer
3. Ryan Villopoto
4. Kevin Windham
5. Chad Reed
6. Andrew Short
7. Trey Canard
8. James Stewart
9. Brett Metcalfe
10. Josh Hansen
John Huber/Red Bull Media House North America, Inc.
Supercross Lites Qualifying Heats
- TLD/Honda/Red Bull’s Cole Seely (pictured above) jumped out to a second-place start to kick off the night’s racing action in Phoenix, and he continued to lay down six consistent laps to easily qualify for the main.
- Behind Seely in second, Red Bull KTM’s Marvin Musquin piloted his 250 SX-F into the fifth-place qualifying position after battling back from a mediocre start.
- Seely’s TLD/Honda/Red Bull teammate, Travis Baker, looked smooth and consistent as he rounded out the top-six to also make his way into the night’s main event.
Supercross Lites Main Event
- After some early jostling among the top-five riders, Musquin completed lap one of the Lites main event in second with Kawasaki’s Dean Wilson within striking distance out front.
- At the halfway point, Musquin still controlled the second spot just a couple seconds back of Wilson, and last week’s winner Seely looked to be gaining momentum as he moved his way into fifth.
- With very little changing up front, the checkers flew for Musquin (pictured below), who crossed the line in the second spot with Red Bull teammates Seely and Baker finishing inside the top-ten with fifth and tenth-place finishes, respectively.
- Musquin’s second-place finish was his first Supercross podium in the United States.
John Huber/Red Bull Media House North America, Inc.
Supercross Lites Results
1. Dean Wilson
2. Marvin Musquin
3. Tyla Rattray
4. Eli Tomac
5. Cole Seely
6. Zach Osborne
7. Jason Anderson
8. Nico Izzi
9. Max Anstie
10. Travis Baker
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